Russia – Soviet: An Order of Glory 3rd Class to Private Anton Demidovich Liulin, Commander of a Signal Section of the 370th Rifle Division for two separate actions during the latter stages of Operation Bagration in Summer 1944 when his unit had approached and then crossed the River Vistula
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, variation 1, with small hand engraved serial number 89825
Condition: Good very fine
Anton Demidovich Liulin was born in the city of Kamennoe, Lebidimsk Raion, Sumsk Oblast on 1910, he joined the Red Army on 17th April 1942, being wounded on 10th February 1943, suffering an enforced absence from the front lines during his recovery, before again seeing front line service from September 1943 onwards. Liulin was severely wounded on 14th November 1943.
Liulin’s first award was this Order of Glory 3rd Class, the citation for which was as follows:
‘31st July 1944. Under the fierce fire of the enemy during the Russian assault of the river Vistula, Liulin, with heavy fire, destroyed an enemy machine gun.
4th August 1944. Repulsing a counterattack of the enemy, he killed three Germans; through this he did not show fear or leave the trench.
Petitioned for the award of the order of Glory 3rd Class to Comrade Liulin.’
Signed by the Commander of the 1230th Rifle Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Devnigov.
This award was made by order of 370th Rifle Division, 1st Belarussian Front on 4th August 1944.
Continuing to serve with 370th Rifle Division, Liulin would have seen service in the Vistula-Oder Offensive that took place in January 1945 driving the Wehrmacht out of Poland and up to the Oder River outside Berlin. The Division was in place near Frankfurt on the Oder River at the time of the beginning of the final offensive to take Berlin on 16th April 1945. The Division was initially held in reserve before taking part in the clearing of the city of Frankfurt on 23rd April 1945, and finally the reduction of the Ninth Army in the Halbe Pocket in late April.
Liulin was recommended for a Medal for Valour by Order of the 370th Rifle ‘Order of the Red Banner’ Division on 17th February 1945, whilst serving as the Commander of a Signal Section in 370th Rifle Division. However, this award appears to have never been issued…. This may be the event that ended up with Liulin being awarded the Order of Glory 2nd Class later on 20th December 1951. The citation for the Medal for Valour was as follows:
‘In the battle for the offensive against the Mezeret Point, 28th January 1945, Comrade Liulin was first to fight in the trenches of the enemy, and the fire of his heavy machine gun destroyed 12 ‘Hitlerovs’ and he damaged two firing points of the enemy, allowing his group to move forward.
Recommended for the high award of the Medal for Valour, Commander of the Training Company, 14th February 1945.
By the time of this final award being given to Liulin on 29th July 1952 he was a worker in a Farm in the name of Voroshilov, in Lebedinsk Raion, Sumsk Oblast, and had been living in the city of Kamennoe in the Sumsk Oblast.